Storm heads west for cup

WESTERN Storm coach Mitch Hills can't wait for another opportunity to take his side interstate when it faces WAFL premier West Perth at Patersons Stadium in their Foxtel Cup semi-final on June 24.

WESTERN Storm coach Mitch Hills can't wait for another opportunity to take his side interstate when it faces WAFL premier West Perth at Patersons Stadium in their Foxtel Cup semi-final on June 24.

West Perth won the right to face the Storm after defeating VFL premier Box Hill 7.11 (53) to 7.9 (51) at Etihad Stadium on Tuesday night.

Hills said yesterday the challenge of playing a major rival on its home turf, as it did in its opening round win over West Adelaide at the Adelaide Oval, would be a motivating factor for his troops.

``We really did appreciate the trip away as it did help us grow a lot as a group,'' Hills said of his fledging side, which has just a five-game history.

``To be able to do it again is great, and it is a good opportunity to play interstate, which we obviously don't always get.''

With Box Hill having an undefeated start to the VFL season and West Perth struggling at 2-4 in the WAFL, Hills admitted he was surprised with the result and having watched the match closely said the Western Australians' fast-moving style of football wouldn't be easy to contain.

He admitted the club, which has made a 2-2 start to its debut State League season, had less contacts out West than in South Australia, but would be putting what they have to use in the coming weeks to gather plenty of vision of their opponents.

The winner of the semi-final goes through to the grand final on Tuesday, July 22, and the chance to play-off for the $100,000 prize on offer for the best club side in the country.

AFL Tasmania granted Storm the state's place in the national competition after last year's State League premier South Launceston opted to join the NTFA for financial reasons.